Day 4 – Tikal Archeological site

This morning we wake up to the sounds of birds and howler monkeys calling in the trees around our hotel.  We are staying in this hotel tonight so we do not have to pack up today.  Off to breakfast and before we go to eat, we check out the view from one of the terraced decks and see this bird.

Next, as we begin to turn around to go to breakfast, we see this in the water not very far from us.  Between us and the crocodile was a fence and we are about 6 feet above him on the deck overlooking the lake.  It is a good thing too because it is breakfast time after all.  I think I hear a clock ticking from this crocodile.  LOL!

We finish breakfast and begin walking around on our way to the room before heading out to Tikal.  Up in one of the trees this bird landed on a branch where I could actually see it.  It was just above me, so the view is from underneath.  Not sure if I am correct, as with most all of the birds we see and photograph, but I think this is a Wood Thrush.

There are many flowers on the 67-acre grounds of Villa Maya on the shores of Petenchel Laguna.  This group of orchids is small but they are very bright yellow; a beautiful group of flowers.

As we walk along the path by the lake, we see several places where you can walk out to the lake, like this one.  We do not have time to spend very much time walking out to these outcroppings, but they are still nice to view.

This is the path we are walking on the grounds of Villa Maya and really enjoy it.  We can hear many birds around us but have yet to get any clear views of them, as they fly away before we get near, maybe later.

We finally see the scarlet macaw that we have been hearing.  It is only afterwards that we see the sign about the birds.  Apparently, the Villa keeps several macaws around for the guests to see.  Oh well, maybe we’ll see some wild ones later.

More flowers before we get on the bus for our trip to Tikal.  We are looking forward to seeing Tikal and the pyramids that are there.

As we finish our short circuit around the grounds, we finish at the pool area.  From here, we will get on the bus for a one hour or so ride to Tikal.

We are on the bus and heading out of the hotel complex to go to Tikal and see this fenced in area with deer in it.  They look a lot like white tail deer to me.  In any case, there was a young fawn, which we were not able to get a picture of, but Carmen says it was cute.

On our way to Tikal, we continue to pass fields and forests, but occasionally we pass churches like this one some larger than others.  We have seen a number of churches during our road trip with at least one in each village. 

No sooner then we get off the bus at the visitors center we find this very colorful Occellated Turkey.   It was hiding under the bushes near the parking lot and some getting off the bus missed it, but once found, everyone passing afterwards saw the turkey.

While we were waiting for our Tikal tour guide I was walking around and saw this bird.  I found out later that it is call a Great Kiskadee. 

One of the Guatemalan (Mayan I think) women that was selling her wares at the visitor’s center.  She was sewing pieces together to make a larger piece of fabric.  You can see all of the bright colors in the pieces she has already woven.

I am seeing more unique birds around the visitor center than I have when I am looking for them.  This one might be a Northern Jacana, but like I said, it is only a guess.

We begin our walk to the ruins through the forest that surrounds the ancient structures and pyramids.  As we walk along the roadway, which by the way is rough, we come to a Ceiba tree, which the Mayans believed was the sacred tree of life and hub of the world.  The roots extend out, called “buttress roots”, give the tree stability and was regarded as the home of men.

Some of the people on the tour would have a difficult hiking up the hill to get to the structures so they will take the truck.  Here Oscar, our tour guide is giving them some information.

This is the first pyramid structure we come to and is in what they call Twin Pyramid Complexes (in this case Q).  These pyramids were commemorative complexes built to celebrate the end of a Katun (or a 20-year period). 

We know the route the Tikal group tour guide is taking since he mentioned it before we started out.  So we are getting to the complexes just ahead of the group to try and get a picture without very many people in it.  As we are leaving the Pyramid Complex Q we see another Occellated Turkey under some palms.

We head out just before the group reaches us and begin making our way to the Grand Plaza.  On the trail we walk along the backside of the first large pyramid temple and see the first glimpse of the Central Acropolis, along with a couple from our group.

Moving into the Grand Plaza, we get a full view of Temple I, also called the Great Jaguar Temple.  It is 156 feet high and it was built around 700 AD.  Underneath is the tomb chamber of one of the most famous rulers at Tikal.  We are unable to climb this pyramid.

This is Temple II and is known as the Temple of Masks or Faces.  It was built around 700 AD and is 125 feet tall.  The temple was built in honor of the wife of the ruler Ah-Cacao.  This temple we were able to climb.

I climbed up to the top of Temple II and was surprised that they built a staircase leading up to the top.  No longer do you have to climb the steep stone staircase.  From the top we have a great view of Temple I, the Great Jaguar Temple.  This is one of the iconic pictures associated with Tikal.

From the top of Temple II we have a great panoramic view of the Grand Plaza, including the North Acropolis on the left and you can see part of the Central Acropolis on the right.

Later, after coming down from the top of Temple II we headed over to North Acropolis.  This is quite a group of buildings and pyramids.  This was a sacred placed considered the cemetery of the rulers of Tikal.  Its construction took more than 1000 years to complete and many royal tombs of the rulers of Tikal were found.  The Acropolis is one of the oldest places in the city.

One of the many facemasks carved into the sides of buildings and walls.  I find it interesting that each mask is different from the next.

From the advantage of the North Acropolis, we have a great view of Temple II.  Another of the iconic views of Tikal.   

Under the one of the levels on the North Acropolis, under cover of a palm frond roof, I found this face carved into the side of the rock face.  I cannot imagine whom this face was carved for.

Heading back down to the Grand Plaza I see this lizard, just posing waiting for me to take its picture. 

Back on the ground of the Grand Plaza, I can see the central Acropolis and its many buildings.  We do not have time to go and explore this section.  You can see the people on and in between the buildings.  This was the largest residential area, political and administrative complex in Tikal.

As we begin walking to the next plaza and temple, we see this bird in the tree.  As usual, we do not know the name of this bird.

We have about a 20-minute walk to the next ruin.  You can see Carmen walking down the path that is worse than it really looks. 

We are on our way to the Lost World pyramid and go by the Palace of Windows or Bats.  This was a presidential palace built around the year 800 AD and was a palatial complex. 

This is the Lost World Pyramid.  It is 90 feet high, but the stairs leading to the top seem to be steeper than the other pyramids.  This pyramid it the Great Astronomical Observation Pyramid and is the place where the Mayans observed the movement of the Milky Way.

Carmen and I reach the top of the Lost World pyramid, the stairs being steep and we stopped once to catch our breath.  From here, you can see Temple I (far right), Temple II (middle), and Temple III (far left). 

Looking to the northwest, we can see the next tall, actually the tallest, pyramid we plan to climb.  In the foreground, you can see one of the other pyramids in this Square of the Seven Temples. 

Before leaving the Square of the Seven Temples, we go over and check out one of the other temples.  Not sure what the name or purpose is for this pyramid is, but it is interesting that there is a small building in the middle of the staircase.

Walking along the path to Temple IV, we get a view of the top of the pyramid through a break in the trees.  We plan to climb this pyramid, which is the tallest at 214 feet and hope we get a good clear view of the other pyramids over the treetops.

Near the top of the pyramid, I saw these flowers growing out of the side of the rock.  I thought it interesting since I do not remember seeing flowers at any other pyramids.

We can again see three other pyramids in the distance, Temple I and Temple II (closest) on the left, and Temple III on the right. 

At the top of the pyramid, I was just looking out and saw some yellow fly by into the nearby tree, so I brought up the camera and saw this yellow bird.  Not until later did I actually see the other bird in the tree.  It did not move from that position for several minutes.  Not sure if this is a mating ritual but it was interesting.

I decided to take a picture of the staircase used to get to the top of the pyramid.  As you can see it switches back and forth to get to the top. 

We are back with the tour group at Temple IV and head out to where we will have lunch, on the grounds of Tikal.  As we are walking, a 30-minute walk, a shortcut the guide said, Carmen and I were walking ahead of everyone when we noticed they stopped.  Going back we see that a family of Coati in the bushes.  I was able to get a quick shot before they left.

This is what the “short-cut” path looks like.  It was full of roots and rocky.  It took about 30-minutes to get to the place for lunch, but it was a short-cut.

On the way back to the hotel, I was able to take a quick picture of one of the local stores. 

After dinner, we were treated to a dance group performing several traditional dances.  The kite dance had large kites tied to their backs and later this dance where the women wore bright colored dresses. 

After several dances with just the women, the men joined in the dances and after a number of moves lined up to perform something close to the bunny hop.  I guess every culture has a bunny-hop dance. 

With all of the dances completed, the dancers lined up in their colorful dresses for the conclusion.  We had a great time watching the traditional dances along with the effort the dancers made to show us. 

Tomorrow we are leaving north Guatemala and head back south towards Antigua Guatemala.